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Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
Our Lady of Guadalupe has a
long history
This is the church of Our
Lady of Guadalupe circa 1802. Photo courtesy Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
By Roger Martínez for
The Taos News
Thursday, December 17,
2009 11:16 AM MST
On Nov. 18, 1801,
permission was granted by Bishop Olivares in Durango to
the community of Taos
to build a church.
This church began as a
mission of San Geronimo Parish at the Taos Pueblo, served
by Fray José Benito
Pereyro, OFM. In August 1826, the Franciscans, under Fray
Mariano José Sanchez
Vergara, OFM, the last Franciscan to serve Taos, turned
the parish over to diocesan
priest Antonio José Martínez.
In 1833, Bishop Zubiria,
of Durango, decreed the making Our Lady of Guadalupe a parish. Fr. Martínez, already
serving as pastor of San Geronimo, became the first pastor
of Nuestra Señora de
Guadalupe. This parish became the first parish under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe
in what is now the United States.
The churches of San
Geronimo and San Francisco de Asís in Ranchos de Taos then
became Visitations of Our
Lady of Guadalupe Parish. This first church honoring the pregnant Virgin of Guadalupe was
built facing south on what is now a parking lot northwest of the historic Taos
Plaza.
This adobe church was
completed in 1802 and held the prayers of its parishioners
for about 109 years
when it was recognized by Archbishop of Santa Fe, Jean
Baptiste Pitaval, to
be irreparable and restoration was not an option. He
ordered Fr. Joseph Giraud to bring down the old church and build a new
church on the same site.
The second structure,
also continued to be named in honor of Our Lady, was built
on the same spot and
completed before the year was over with a total budget of
$11,000.
This house of prayer
that witnessed many baptisms, weddings and funerals of parishioners was destroyed by an
accidental fire July 24, 1961, by boys searching for pigeon eggs in the belfry.
Eighteen months later,
after parish involvement at all levels, under the
leadership of Fr. Alberto
Chávez and the Parish Council, the new adobe edifice of
Our Lady of Guadalupe was
dedicated on Dec. 16, 1962, by Archbishop Edwin Byrne.
Monsignor Charewicz had the opportunity to serve the parish from its
completion until 1967 when he was replaced by Fr. Robert Beach.
Today, Our Lady of
Guadalupe Parish continues to serve parishioners of the
Taos Valley including
families of the historic St. Jerome Mission at Taos
Pueblo, the chapels of Nuestra
Señora de Dolores in Cañón, Santa Teresa de Avila in El
Prado, Immaculate Conception
in Ranchitos and San Antonio in La Loma, where Masses are
held regularly.
Last year the parish had
opportunity to get back the legendary La Morada de Nuestra
Señora de Guadalupe,
which had been owned by the Taos Historic Museums since
1988. It had been
built after the land was acquired from the Taos Pueblo in
1798. It's prayerful use
had been consistent for almost 200 years, sitting near the
base of the Sacred Taos Mountain.
This morada had been the
center of New Mexico Penitente Brotherhood for much of
that time. For the
last couple of years, Stations of the Cross have been
prayed on its Calvario during
Lenten Fridays and a pilgrimage from the parish was taken,
ending with Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Parish has several active organizations including the Mayordomos⁄Parish Council, Finance
Council, Catholic Daughters, Holy Name Society, Guad alupanas, Peregrinos, St.
Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus, Secular Franciscans, and the St. Michael's
Youth Group.
There is a full
religious education program having at least two classes
per grade. There are
three full-time choirs, a long list of Lectors, counters
and two deacons — Deacon Donald Martínez and Deacon Jerry Quintana.
This year, 2009, Our Lady of Guadalupe has had 176 years as a parish, and
celebrated its 175th anniversary under the leadership of Fr. Lawrence Brito who has now
served just over five years as its parish priest.
The parish's
celebrations include: The Silver Rose Run Relay with a
rosary, sponsored by
the Knights of Columbus, Nov. 8; it celebrated the Feast
of San Juan Diego with Masses,Dec.
6; vespers for the feast of the Immaculate Conception at
the capilla with a community
meal followin, Monday, Dec. 7.
The parish continues its
celebration this weekend beginning with its fourth annual
mariachi concert Friday
(Dec. 11), the eve of Our Lady's feast, featuring Mariachi
Buenaventura. At dawn
Saturday (Dec. 12), the parish celebrates Our Lady of
Guadalupe by singing
her Las Mañanitas.
Later that evening a
Mass in celebration of the Virgen of Guadalupe will be
held followed by a
feast provided by the mayordomos and a pageant of the
story of San Juan Diego and his visits with Our Loving Mother almost 500
years ago.
Roger Martínez is a
mayordomo of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.